London 2012 Olympics: Olga Butkevych wrestling for Team GB and her sport's future

When Olga Butkevych makes her Olympic debut for Team GB in the women’s
freestyle wrestling on Thursday, it promises to be a landmark not just for
the Ukraine-born athlete but also for the sport in this country.

Import strength: Ukraine-born Olga Butkevych, drafted in to help British Wrestling five years ago, represents Team GB in the -55kg category at London 2012Photo: PA

Butkevych, who grew up 5,000 miles from London in Zaporizhia, the sixth-biggest city in Ukraine, is Britain’s sole wrestling representative in the Games.

Having only gained British citizenship in May, Butkevych’s selection to represent Team GB has attracted criticism within the sport.

The 26 year-old is one of a number of foreign-born wrestlers who were recruited by British Wrestling five years ago to be sparring partners for the squad in a bid to raise standards for London 2012 but now finds herself representing her adopted country in the -55kg category, while home-grown wrestlers such as Leon Rattigan failed to make the cut.

British Wrestling chief executive Colin Nicholson admitted it was “disappointing” that the policy had not yet produced more wrestlers of international standard. Yet he maintains that Butkevych can help inspire the next generation of British wrestlers with a creditable performance today at a time when the sport is hoping to secure funding for a new elite performance programme for Rio in 2016.

“Olga came here in 2007 and has been working extremely hard working on the British programme, helping to set up an international-standard programme showing what needs to be done to wrestle at the top level,” said Nicholson.

“She sets a great example and is a fantastic person. I think she should get every support. The fact that her dedication and hard work has paid off in terms of getting selection is fantastic and I hope she manages to deliver her potential on the day.

“Foreign training partners have come in to assist the wrestling community in Britain since 2002 and the policy is to bring them in to help the British wrestlers. If any of those training partners choose to stay, we are not going to say no and we will support them in their applications.”

Britain has not won an Olympic medal in wrestling since 1984 when Londoner Noel Loban won bronze and Nicholson faces an uphill battle to improve standards at the elite level. Russia alone have around five-times as many athletes in its elite squad (500) as there senior active members of British Wrestling.

Funding for the sport is also an ongoing concern, with wrestling only receiving £1.4 million over the last four years, a sum that is dwarfed by the £7 million judo has received.

Nicholson remains optimistic however that the legacy of the London Games will be key in growing the sport to ensure that Team GB has a bigger wrestling representation in Rio.

“We have put in a draft plan to UK Sport for a performance plan for Rio and we are also working very hard with Sport England to lay out a secure legacy for the sport,” Nicholson added.

“We are building a talent pathway to bring through young British wrestlers in the future.

“We have revamped the coaching programme so that it will be at a far higher standard across the country for atheles of different ages and standards and is our best chance for securing success in the future.”